LIFE BEGINS AFTER RETIREMENT
INTRODUCTION:
“Retirement has been a discovery of beauty for me. I never had the time before to notice the beauty of my grand kids, my wife, the tree outside my very own front door. And, the beauty of time itself.” – Hartman Jule
“Retirement itself is the best gift. No gold watch could ever top it.” – Abigail Charleson
“The trouble with retirement is that you never get a day off.” – Abe Lemons
“Retired is being twice tired, I’ve thought
First tired of working,
Then tired of not.”- Richard Armour
The above adage of the famous people present us a very disparate views about retirement. Every people in all walks of like know that retirement is inevitable and it has become a part and parcel of ones life. Life is meant to be “lived” and not just passed. This phase of life can be made fun and worth living to explore the unexplored.
LATENT THOUGHTS
There may be times in our life when we wanted to learn to play tennis or wanted to write a book on our ordeals and learning, or wanted to learn yoga or simply pursue our long cherished passions. But our wishes were never fulfilled, because we were too busy at work or family. To put it in other This is the right time to explore our hidden talents and fulfill your deepest desires.
Of course one feels very high and happy to shoulder all the responsibility. Certainly it gives utmost satisfaction to our inner soul. But today in this hectic world whether we like it or not all of us are engaged in a mad rat race catapulted towards inflated targets and unreachable destination .During this mindless expedition we do tend to miss so many things which might look insignificant but carry significant value. When we hurry through each moment being so obsessed with getting to the check point , we miss out on the richness that could be ours.
Here retirement comes us the bonanza when we take time to live, to experience where we are. We begin to accept that there are so much to enjoy, to share. The terrain of life is filled with wonderful and astounding details which we failed to notice earlier. On the other hand we need not regret too much about this for the fact that it is wonderfully exhilarating when life is moving quickly and the velocity becomes our only experience when there is so much in parallel to relish.
If we try to de-segment the life and begin to look at each segments one by one, we can realize that each segment has its own essence, charm , meaning, quality, pros and cons. We will then recognize how each segment are interlinked, their superimposing effects on each other. So once this understanding in our life is established then retirement will be stage of unwinding.
Money plays a paramount role in determining the happiness of anyone’s life post Retirement .Life can be more blissful if a reasonable saving has been done in time to take care of all exigencies like health issues, children higher studies, son’s/daughter’s marriage, buying a house or other properties, social spending and above all to maintain a fixed balance always for tacking day to day expenses.
RETIREMENT – PERCEPTION & THE ISSUES TO CONSIDER:
From the good old days to the present electronic age the very thought of retirement unnerves all types of people in varied ways.
Below list presents the common reasons for the prevalence of negative attitude towards retirement.
1. Emotional Issues-One own self
-Partner issue
-Family/Relations
2. Unfulfilled commitments
3. Financial issues
4. Health issues
5. Societal attitude
EMOTIONAL ISSUES
One own self
At first retirement can feel like a holiday and the initial phase is often referred to as the ‘honeymoon’ period. You can sleep in, catch up on reading or hobbies, and spend more time with family and friends. However, once this ‘honeymoon’ period wears off, you may feel down or depressed .For an average salaried person the prime thing would me the Money Factor. Since most of the issues are money bound , money tops the list and irrespective of the gender this panic marches happily in ones mind when one thinks about family responsibilities and other related matter. A feeling of insecurity gradually gets rooted in the mind of the people which has its own associated aberrations. Some even go the extent of secluding themselves from rest of the family /society causing agony to their attached ones too. A recent Study shows that high percentage of people die during their first year of retirement. One of the reasons being , psychological trauma. A sense of feeling that you’re a worn out individual and should be placed in the corner of the house sitting idle most of the time. This can be effectively handled by engaging ourselves in some constructive activity which profoundly helps us to cope up with the nagging worries. Some times spending time on hobbies and interest, may not turn out to be as rewarding and meaningful as anticipated .Emotional issues to consider include:
Our profession forms part of our identity. Some people can suffer a loss of self-worth once they cease to working. Daily schedule and activities add a rationale to life. If there is nothing in particular to do or look forward to on any given day, a person is more likely to feel monotony and more depressed than a person who lives a dynamic meaningful life. Grandparents may find they are expected to baby sit all the time which is an arduous tax on them. Partner issues can include differing (and conflicting) ideas on retirement lifestyle.
We must make sure that ours is not an idle mind, so there can be no devil’s paradise.
Partner issues:
When a person retires or in the verge of retirement, their better half need not be on the same lane which paves way for innumerable disagreements and misunderstandings costing the mental peace. Some of the common issues include:
One partner has retired or plans to retire, while the other willing to continue working. Notions on retirement lifestyle may collide; for example, one partner wants to have a hectic life schedule with much of travel, hobbies and volunteer work, while the other long for a more unperturbed daily routine. It can be little complex at first to frame out how much time to spend together. This is specifically the case if one partner is gregarious and social, while the other is more introspective. In this scenario, the outgoing partner may feel disregarded, while the introspective partner could feel hassled. Some people may try to do everything united as a couple, but lack of personal space can cause stress and scuffle.
Family/Relations
ON the other hand , there are instances where the retirees are treated with due respect even by their own kith and kin. This is not a cherry fact. In their twilight years all these elderly look forward to are food, love and peace. But it is very untoward that there are many instances of emotional, physical, financial and mental abuse older generation are subjected to by their own children. They are exhausted , they have more than enough run the race of life, and they require rest to reflect and prepare for their final journey. Everyone goes through this ordeal. No one is bestowed with enduring youthful and energetic life .So what makes these children forget this one natural, universal truth? Where has gone their gratitude which is supposed to have been intrinsic in them? However a small relief is that there of course exists children with innate predisposition to be grateful to their parents .However it is a brutal fact that those children can absolutely not compete with the number of adults with glimmering gratitude whom we see in the world today. If a simple but vital introspection can be made by all these ungrateful successors and if efforts are made to make the family bond thick set then the retirement blues can be effortlessly trounced. After all Co-existence gives peace in life which everyone craves for . Sharing can fetch ecstasy. Values and morals make a society culturally affluent. Let us all strive to improve our society and halt this monstrous moral slide that is leisurely but surely happening .
Unfulfilled commitments:
It is an adage that “Life Without Commitment Is A Life Unfulfilled” .But what will be the plight of the people with reasonable dreams , goals ,commitments and aspiration but unfortunately unable to accomplish them before their life slows down. The unanimous raison d’être what the people attribute to this is having too much of commitments in the pipeline and poor in prioritizing. A well crafted investment in our hay days can be the best solution for the unfulfilled commitments like children’s marriage. For a long-term investor a short-term market swings do not have much implications. So early prudent saving can result in exuberant accumulation of fund which can very well be channelized to meet all the requirements post retirement. However for people with minimum savings or no savings due to predominant demand from large family like sibling’s education, marriage the sole tranquilizer can be an helping hand from their own children or relatives .
Financial Issues:
An astute person will unquestionably plan well in advance about their financial position post retirement. It is ideal to consult a financial planner, accountant or similar to chart out the financial issues of retirement as it blankets all the other issues. Some of the factors to consider include:
The size of your superannuation nest egg. Other savings and assets. Level of liabilities. Whether you have any dependants. List of commitments not met. If you are planning to continue working part-time or not. Your eligibility for pensions or part-pensions. Possession of properties. Financial options if you or your partner fall ill. The kind of retirement lifestyle you’re anticipating.
A systematic approach to face the retirement phase is more recommended than facing unforeseen challenges timidly.
Health issues
One of the key issues but the one which is mostly ignored by many people is the health care. In the olden days one tend to overlook their health related issues even from the early age when they start their journey in taking care the family. They normally carried by the thought of shouldering the family responsibility but not a wee bit thought about their own health as they do not want to be self-centered to think about themselves. Thankfully this attitude has undergone a sea change now and the practice of having medical insurance and other stuffs are on the rise now. The practice of early-wise saving , even it is iterative is worth to be stressed again and again that many of the problems can be tackled with great ease. Obviously the poor savers tend to bury their pain and will be forced to invite their death with agony.
Societal Attitude:
Some people look forward to retirement as an extended holiday where they can finally slow down and ‘smell the roses’. Other people expect to have a busier, more active life than when they were working. When one have such a affirmative attitude towards retirement nothing can go awry. But even for those upbeat people, when they encounter a demotivating expression from their social group by projecting nightmarish picture about the retirement life it tends to infuriate them and even belittle their confidence. On the other hand, a person who always feel petrified about retired life ,these thorny statements from the society will make their life lifeless and pale.
ROLE OF PLANNING IN RETIREMENT:
“Good plans shape good decisions. That is why good planning helps to make elusive dream come true”
People who plan an hectic life after retirement tend to be happier than those who have no preparations. Some tips for good planning include:
Opting for Flexi Time working or Interim working especially working mothers rather than fully retiring. Volunteer work is a gratifying way to add configuration and more meaning to your life, Devote time and energy into much-loved interests and passions. Setting a personal standard with a purpose and striving to adhere to it. Upgrading oneself with further education with options galloping from short part time courses through to university degrees. It could even be a new launch pad in ones retired life. Make sure that you and your partner discuss ways to accommodate each other’s wants, needs and expectations. Open discussions can smoothen the relationships. Loneliness is a common source of depression in older people, To combat it one should maintain and increase their social networks.
Few ways to stay active after Retirement:
“what is this life with full of care
We have no time to stand and stare:
No time to stand beneath the bows
As long as sheep or goats:”
Life is a cycle with so many phases and retirement is the phase to relax and indulge in :
•· Physical activity to keep us healthy and fit.
•· To meet friends to relive the nostalgic past and to catch up with the ones we have missed.
•· Gardening to freshen our mind and fortify our body.
•· To assist Grandkids in their studies and play with them.
•· Go on a pilgrimage trip or just holiday.
•· Volunteering our service to an NGO for a noble cause.
Making the best use of our skill by tutoring the students which will inflate our wallets too. Pursuing our long cherished passion.
•· Participating in religious activities.
Upgrading us by further studies since age can not deter learning.
SHAME OF US:
In western countries the government came out with a new proposal of introducing a directive that would make it compulsory for children to look after their parents. What an appalling state of affairs?! The confidence in the children has corroded and eroded too much that there is a requirement of an authority to enforce a law to make sure the children do their duty. This divulges to what levels morals and values have declined. Where is society heading? Shouldn’t this duty be intrinsic and un-prompted? Why should someone monitor you with a stick and coerce you to take care of your parents? This was not done to the parents. They did their duty of raising up their children commendably, so why do children need perks and pressure to look after their parents
SALUTE TO THE RETIREES
Let not age make you yield to its oddities. Soar and fly. Commence your life a new in its own dazzling colors. Retirement is the respect given to your years of service. But if you don’t want to sit and rest why not explore and say “here is life I am back like a Phoenix. Ready to go.” Live the life that you’re worth living, after all, ‘Age is a state of the mind.’
The elderly must be allowed to depart with respect and their passing should be mourned
Even if a parent has failed a lot, someday you will be a parent and have to face your own failures. Why not receive a blessing by being grateful just for the fact that they were your
